U.S. patent number 10,139,145 [Application Number 15/084,532] was granted by the patent office on 2018-11-27 for filters for stand-alone ice making appliances.
This patent grant is currently assigned to HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Samuel Vincent DuPlessis, Tomas Garces, Timothy Scott Shaffer, Ronald Scott Tarr.
United States Patent |
10,139,145 |
DuPlessis , et al. |
November 27, 2018 |
Filters for stand-alone ice making appliances
Abstract
Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance
includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of
ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of
water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage
volume. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in
fluid communication with the pump for receiving water from the
pump. The appliance further includes a filter, the filter including
a filter medium operable to remove contaminants from water flowing
through the filter medium, the filter positioned upstream of the
ice maker in a flow direction of water from the second storage
volume to the ice maker.
Inventors: |
DuPlessis; Samuel Vincent
(Louisville, KY), Shaffer; Timothy Scott (La Grange, KY),
Tarr; Ronald Scott (Louisville, KY), Garces; Tomas
(Louisville, KY) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
General Electric Company |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS,
INC. (Wilmington, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
59959254 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/084,532 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170284721 A1 |
Oct 5, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C
1/147 (20130101); F25C 1/25 (20180101); F25C
5/182 (20130101); F25D 11/00 (20130101); F25C
2400/12 (20130101); F25C 2400/14 (20130101); F25D
2323/121 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25C
1/25 (20180101); F25C 1/147 (20180101); F25D
11/00 (20060101); F25C 5/182 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;62/319,340,449 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jones; Melvin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dority & Manning, P.A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising: a container
defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice; a water tank,
the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of
water; a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume
for actively flowing water from the water tank; an ice maker, the
ice maker in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water
from the pump, wherein the ice maker comprises an auger at least
partially surrounded by a casing and a sealed refrigeration system
in thermal communication with the casing; a filter, the filter
comprising a filter medium operable to remove contaminants from
water flowing through the filter medium, the filter positioned
upstream of the ice maker in a flow direction of water from the
second storage volume to the ice maker; and a chute extending
between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced
by the ice maker towards the first storage volume.
2. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the
filter is disposed within the second storage volume, and wherein
water is flowable from the second storage volume through the filter
to the pump.
3. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, further
comprising a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third
storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving
water that is actively flowed from the water tank, and wherein the
ice maker is in fluid communication with the third storage volume
for receiving water from the reservoir.
4. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the
filter comprises a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis
between a first end wall and a second end wall, and wherein an
inlet is defined proximate the first end wall relative to the
second end wall along the longitudinal axis and an outlet is
defined proximate the second end wall relative to the first end
wall along the longitudinal axis.
5. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 4, wherein the
inlet is defined in the sidewall and contiguous with the first end
wall.
6. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 4, wherein a
nozzle protrudes from the second end wall along the longitudinal
axis and defines the outlet.
7. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 6, wherein the
nozzle is offset along an outer surface of the second end wall from
a centroid of the outer surface.
8. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 6, wherein the
filter is disposed within the second storage volume, and wherein
the nozzle extends into a female fitting of the water tank.
9. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 4, wherein the
filter medium has a hollow cylindrical shape which defines an
interior.
10. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 9, wherein the
filter further comprises a seal ring, and wherein a flow path is
defined for water through the inlet and seal ring into the interior
and from the interior through the filter medium to the outlet.
11. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the
filter comprises a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis
between a first end wall and a second end wall, and wherein a
plurality of inlets are defined in the sidewall and an outlet is
defined proximate the second end wall relative to the first end
wall along the longitudinal axis.
12. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 11, wherein a
flow path is defined for water through the plurality of inlets and
through the filter medium to an interior defined by the filter
medium, and from the interior to the outlet.
13. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the
filter is disposed within the second storage volume, and wherein
the filter medium forms a partition within the second storage
volume.
14. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein ice
within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperature
greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
15. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising: a removable
container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice; a
water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for
receipt of water and disposed below the container along a vertical
direction; a pump in fluid communication with the second storage
volume for actively flowing water from the water tank; a reservoir
defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid
communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively
flowed from the water tank; an ice maker, the ice maker comprising
a sealed refrigeration system; a chute extending between the ice
maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker
towards the first storage volume; and a filter disposed within the
second storage volume, the filter comprising a filter medium
operable to remove contaminants from water flowing through the
filter medium, wherein water is flowable from the second storage
volume through the filter to the pump, and wherein ice within the
first storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than
thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
16. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 15, wherein the
filter comprises a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis
between a first end wall and a second end wall, and wherein an
inlet is defined proximate the first end wall relative to the
second end wall along the longitudinal axis and an outlet is
defined proximate the second end wall relative to the first end
wall along the longitudinal axis.
17. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 15, wherein the
filter comprises a sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis
between a first end wall and a second end wall, and wherein a
plurality of inlets are defined in the sidewall and an outlet is
defined proximate the second end wall relative to the first end
wall along the longitudinal axis.
18. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 15, wherein the
filter medium forms a partition within the second storage volume.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates generally to stand-alone ice
making appliances, and in exemplary embodiments to stand-alone ice
making appliances which produce nugget ice and which utilize
filters for contaminate removal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ice makers generally produce ice for the use of consumers, such as
in drinks being consumed, for cooling foods or drinks to be
consumed and/or for other various purposes. Certain refrigerator
appliances include ice makers for producing ice. The ice maker can
be positioned within the appliances' freezer chamber and direct ice
into an ice bucket where it can be stored within the freezer
chamber. Such refrigerator appliances can also include a dispensing
system for assisting a user with accessing ice produced by the
refrigerator appliances' ice maker. However, the incorporation of
ice makers into refrigerator appliance can have drawbacks, such as
limits on the amount of ice that can be produced and the reliance
on the refrigeration system of the refrigerator appliance to form
the ice.
Recently, stand-alone ice makers have been developed. These ice
makers are separate from refrigerator appliances and provide
independent ice supplies. However, many stand-alone ice makers
require a connection to the plumbing of the dwelling where the ice
maker resides, in order to have access to a water supply.
Additionally, many stand-alone ice makers do not allow for removal
of the ice bucket, instead requiring that ice be scooped from the
bucket for use. Further, typical stand-alone ice makers are
expensive, to the point of being cost-prohibitive to the typical
consumer. Still further, filtering of water that is provided (i.e.
by a user) to such stand-alone ice makers is desired.
Accordingly, improved stand-alone ice makers are desired in the
art. In particular, cost-effective stand-alone ice makers which
address various of the above issues would be advantageous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part
in the following description, or may be apparent from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
In accordance with one embodiment, a stand-alone ice making
appliance is provided. The appliance includes a container defining
a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank, the water
tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a
pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for
actively flowing water from the water tank. The appliance further
includes an ice maker, the ice maker in fluid communication with
the pump for receiving water from the pump. The appliance further
includes a filter, the filter including a filter medium operable to
remove contaminants from water flowing through the filter medium,
the filter positioned upstream of the ice maker in a flow direction
of water from the second storage volume to the ice maker.
In accordance with another embodiment, a stand-alone ice making
appliance is provided. The appliance includes a removable container
defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank,
the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of
water and disposed below the container along a vertical direction,
and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume
for actively flowing water from the water tank. The appliance
further includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the
third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for
receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The
appliance further includes an ice maker, the ice maker including a
sealed refrigeration system. The appliance further includes a chute
extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice
produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume. The
appliance further includes a filter disposed within the second
storage volume, the filter including a filter medium operable to
remove contaminants from water flowing through the filter medium,
wherein water is flowable from the second storage volume through
the filter to the pump. Ice within the first storage volume is
maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-two degrees
Fahrenheit.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with reference to the
following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including
the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the
art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to
the appended figures.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stand-alone ice making appliance
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of a stand-alone ice making
appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view (with a casing removed) of a
stand-alone ice making appliance in accordance with one embodiment
of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a rear sectional view of a stand-alone ice making
appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a stand-alone ice making appliance
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a stand-alone
ice making appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a filter for use in a stand-alone
ice making appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a stand-alone
ice making appliance in accordance with another embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a stand-alone
ice making appliance in accordance with another embodiment of the
present disclosure; and
FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a
stand-alone ice making appliance in accordance with another
embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a stand-alone ice making
appliance 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is
illustrated. As shown, appliance 10 includes an outer casing 12
which generally at least partially houses various other components
of the appliance therein 10. A container 14 is also illustrated.
Container 14 defines a first storage volume 16 for the receipt and
storage of ice 18 therein. A user of the appliance 10 may access
ice 18 within the container 14 for consumption or other uses.
Container 14 may include one or more sidewalls 20 and a base wall
22 (see FIG. 2), which may together define the first storage volume
16. In exemplary embodiments, at least one sidewall 20 may be
formed from a clear, see-through (i.e. transparent or translucent)
material, such as a clear glass or plastic, such that a user can
see into the first storage volume 16 and thus view ice 18 therein.
Further, in exemplary embodiments, container 14 may be removable,
such as from the outer casing 12, by a user. This facilitates easy
access by the user to ice within the container 14 and further, for
example, may provide access to a water tank 24 (see FIG. 2) of the
appliance 10.
Appliances 10 in accordance with the present disclosure are
advantageously stand-alone appliances, and thus are not connected
to refrigerators or other appliances. Additionally, in exemplary
embodiments, such appliances are non-plumbed, and thus not
connected to plumbing or another water source that is external to
the appliance 10, such as a refrigerator water source. Rather, in
exemplary embodiments, water is initially supplied to the appliance
10 manually by a user, such as by pouring water into water tank
24.
Notably, appliances 10 as discussed herein include various features
which allow the appliances 10 to be affordable and desirable to
typical consumers. For example, the stand-alone feature reduces the
cost associated with the appliance 10 and allows the consumer to
position the appliance 10 at any suitable desired location, with
the only requirement in some embodiments being access to an
electrical source. The removable container 14 allows easy access to
ice and allows the container 14 to be moved to a different position
from the remainder of the appliance 10 for ice usage purposes.
Additionally, in exemplary embodiments as discussed herein,
appliance 10 is configured to make nugget ice (as discussed herein)
which is becoming increasingly popular with consumers.
Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, various other components of
appliances 10 in accordance with the present disclosure are
illustrated. For example, as mentioned, appliance 10 includes a
water tank 24. The water tank 24 defines a second storage volume 26
for the receipt and holding of water. Water tank 24 may include one
or more sidewalls 28 and a base wall 30 which may together define
the second storage volume 26. In exemplary embodiments, the water
tank 24 may be disposed below the container 14 along a vertical
direction V defined for the appliance 10, as shown.
As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, water is provided to the
water tank 24 for use in forming ice. Accordingly, appliance 10 may
further include a pump 32. Pump 32 may be in fluid communication
with the second storage volume 26. For example, water may be
flowable from the second storage volume 26 through an opening 31
defined in the water tank 24, such as in a sidewall 28 thereof, and
may flow through a conduit to and through pump 32. Pump 32 may,
when activated, actively flow water from the second storage volume
26 therethrough and from the pump 32.
Water actively flowed from the pump 32 may be flowed (for example
through a suitable conduit) to ice maker 50. For example, in some
embodiments water actively flowed from the pump 32 may be flowed
(for example through a suitable conduit) directly to the ice maker
50. Alternatively, an intermediate reservoir 34 may be provided,
and water may be actively flowed from the pump 32 to the reservoir
34. For example, reservoir 34 may define a third storage volume 36,
which may be defined by one or more sidewalls 38 and a base wall
40. Third storage volume 36 may, for example, be in fluid
communication with the pump 32 and may thus receive water that is
actively flowed from the water tank 24, such as through the pump
32. For example, water may be flowed into the third storage volume
36 through an opening 42 defined in the reservoir 34.
Reservoir 34 and third storage volume 36 thereof may receive and
contain water to be provided to an ice maker 50 for the production
of ice. Accordingly, third storage volume 36 may be in fluid
communication with ice maker 50. For example, water may be flowed,
such as through opening 44 and through suitable conduits, from
third storage volume 36 to ice maker 50.
Ice maker 50 generally receives water, such as from reservoir, and
freezes the water to form ice 18. The ice maker 50 is in fluid
communication with the pump 32, such as directly or indirectly via
reservoir 34 and third storage volume 36. While any suitable style
of ice maker is within the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure, in exemplary embodiments, ice maker 50 is a nugget ice
maker, and in particular is an auger-style ice maker. As shown, ice
maker 50 may include a casing 52 into which water from third
storage volume 36 is flowed. Casing 52 is thus in fluid
communication with third storage volume 36. For example, casing 52
may include one or more sidewalls 54 which may define an interior
volume 56, and an opening 58 may be defined in a sidewall 54. Water
may be flowed from third storage volume 36 through the opening 58
(such as via a suitable conduit) into the interior volume 56.
As illustrated, an auger 60 may be disposed at least partially
within the casing 52. During operation, the auger 60 may rotate.
Water within the casing 52 may at least partially freeze due to
heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system as discussed
herein. The at least partially frozen water may be lifted by the
auger 60 from casing 52. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the at
least partially frozen water may be directed by auger 60 to and
through an extruder 62. The extruder 62 may extrude the at least
partially frozen water to form ice, such as nuggets of ice 18.
Formed ice 18 may be provided by the ice maker 50 to container 14,
and may be received in the first storage volume 16 thereof. For
example, ice 18 formed by auger 60 and/or extruder 62 may be
provide to the container 14. In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10
may include a chute 70 for directing ice 18 produced by the ice
maker 50 towards the first storage volume 16. For example, as
shown, chute 70 is generally positioned above container 14 along
the vertical direction V. Thus, ice can slide off of chute 70 and
drop into storage volume 16 of container 14. Chute 70 may, as
shown, extend between ice maker 50 and container 14, and may
include a body 72 which defines a passage 74 therethrough. Ice 18
may be directed from the ice maker 50 (such as from the auger 60
and/or extruder 62) through the passage 74 to the container 14. In
some embodiments, for example, a sweep 64, which may for example be
connected to and rotate with the auger, may contact the ice
emerging through the extruder 62 from the auger 60 and direct the
ice through the passage 74 to the container 14.
As discussed, water within the casing 52 may at least partially
freeze due to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system.
In exemplary embodiments, ice maker 50 may include a sealed
refrigeration system 80. The sealed refrigeration system 80 may be
in thermal communication with the casing 52 to remove heat from the
casing 52 and interior volume 56 thereof, thus facilitating
freezing of water therein to form ice. Sealed refrigeration system
80 may, for example, include a compressor 82, a condenser 84, a
throttling device 86 and an evaporator 88. Evaporator 88 may, for
example, be in thermal communication with the casing 52 in order to
remove heat from the interior volume 56 and water therein during
operation of sealed system 80. For example, evaporator 88 may at
least partially surround the casing 52. In particular, evaporator
88 may be a conduit coiled around and in contact with casing 52,
such as the sidewall(s) 54 thereof. During operation of sealed
system 80, refrigerant exits evaporator 88 as a fluid in the form
of a superheated vapor and/or vapor mixture. Upon exiting
evaporator 88, the refrigerant enters compressor 82 wherein the
pressure and temperature of the refrigerant are increased such that
the refrigerant becomes a superheated vapor. The superheated vapor
from compressor 82 enters condenser 84 wherein energy is
transferred therefrom and condenses into a saturated liquid and/or
liquid vapor mixture. This fluid exits condenser 84 and travels
through throttling device 86 that is configured for regulating a
flow rate of refrigerant therethrough. Upon exiting throttling
device 86, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant drop at
which time the refrigerant enters evaporator 88 and the cycle
repeats itself In certain exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 through 6, throttling device 86 may be a capillary
tube.
As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, ice 18 may be nugget ice.
Nugget ice is ice that that is maintained or stored (i.e. in first
storage volume 16 of container 14) at a temperature greater than
the melting point of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees
Fahrenheit. Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the environment
surrounding the container 14 may be at a temperature greater than
the melting point of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees
Fahrenheit. In some embodiments, such temperature may be greater
than forty degrees Fahrenheit, greater than fifty degrees
Fahrenheit, or greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ice 18 held within the first storage volume 16 may gradually melt.
The melting speed is increased for nugget ice due to the increased
maintenance/storage temperature. Accordingly, drain features may
advantageously be provided in the container for draining such melt
water. Additionally, and advantageously, the melt water may in
exemplary embodiments be reused by appliance 10 to form ice.
For example, in some embodiments as illustrated in FIG. 5, a drain
aperture 90 may be defined in the base wall 22. Drain aperture 90
may allow water to flow from the first storage volume 16 and
container 14 generally. Further, in exemplary embodiments, water
flowing from the first storage volume 16 and container 14 may, due
to gravity and the vertical alignment of the container 14 of water
tank 24, flow into the second storage volume 26.
In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10 may further include a
controller 110. Controller 110 may for example, be configured to
operate the appliance 10 based on, for example, user inputs to the
appliance 10 (such as to a user interface thereof), inputs from
various sensors disposed within the appliance 10, and/or other
suitable inputs. Controller 110 may for example include one or more
memory devices and one or more microprocessors, such as general or
special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming
instructions or micro-control code associated with appliance 10
operation. The memory may represent random access memory such as
DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment,
the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory.
The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be
included onboard within the processor.
In exemplary embodiments, controller 110 may be in operative
communication with the pump 32. Such operative communication may be
via a wired or wireless connection, and may facilitate the
transmittal and/or receipt of signals by the controller 110 and
pump 32. Controller 110 may be configured to activate the pump 32
to actively flow water. For example, controller 110 may activate
the pump 32 to actively flow water therethrough when, for example,
reservoir 34 requires water. A suitable sensor(s), for example, may
be provided in the third storage volume 36. The sensor(s) may be in
operative communication with the controller 110 may be transmit
signals to the controller 110 which indicate whether or not
additional water is desired in the reservoir 34. When controller
110 receives a signal that water is desired, controller 110 may
send a signal to pump 32 to activate that pump.
It should additionally be noted that, in exemplary embodiments,
controller 110 may be in operative communication with the sealed
system 80, such as with the compressor 82 thereof, and may activate
the sealed system 80 as desired or required for ice making
purposes.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 10, in exemplary embodiments as
shown, a filter 150 may be provided. In general, the filter 150 may
be positioned upstream of the ice maker 50 in a flow direction of
water from the second storage volume 26 to the ice maker 50. For
example, in exemplary embodiments as shown, the filter 150 may be
disposed within the second storage volume 26 for filtering water
that is provided in the second storage volume 26, such as before
the water is flowed from the second storage volume 26 for ice
formation purposes. Accordingly, water within the second storage
volume 26 may flow through filter 150, and from filter 150 to
downstream components of the appliance 10 such as pump 32.
Alternatively, however, the filter 150 may be positioned downstream
of the pump 32, such as between the pump 32 and ice maker 50, and
may for example be in line between the pump 32 and ice maker 50, in
the third storage volume 36, etc.
Specifically, filter 150 may include a filter medium 152 which is
operable to remove contaminants from water flowing through the
filter medium 152. Contaminants may include but are not limited to
dirt, sediment, sand, rust, lead, cysts and other debris which may
be mechanically filtered from the water, as well as volatile
organic compounds such as chloroform, lindane, and atrazine which
can be adsorbed into pore surfaces in the filter medium 152. Any
suitable filter medium 152 may be utilized, including for example,
activated carbon blocks, pleated polymer sheets, spun cord
materials, or melt blown materials. In exemplary embodiments, a
filter medium 152 may include a bacteriostatic agent such as
silver.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the filter medium 152 may form
a partition, such as within the second storage volume 26 as shown,
segmenting the second storage volume 26 into a pre-filtered portion
160 and a post-filtered portion 162. The post-filtered portion 162
may include the opening 31. In these embodiments, the filter 150
may for example only include the filter medium 152, or may
additionally include other components such as a frame or body in
which the filter medium 152 is disposed.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the filter medium
152 may be generally horizontally extending, such that the
pre-filtered portion 160 is above the post-filtered portion 162
along the vertical direction V. In alternative embodiments, as
illustrated in FIG. 10, the filter medium 152 may be generally
vertically extending, such that the pre-filtered portion 160 and
post-filtered portion 162 are side-by-side along the vertical
direction V. In further alternative embodiments, the filter medium
152 may extend at any suitable angle between vertical and
horizontal to partition a volume such as the second storage volume
26.
Notably, in some embodiments (such as when the filter medium 152 is
generally vertically extending), a cap 164 may be provided, such as
adjacent a top of the water tank 24 along the vertical direction V,
to prevent access to the post-filtered portion 162 by, for example,
a user pouring water into the volume such as the second storage
volume 26. This prevents contamination of filtered water within the
post-filtered portion 162.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8, in alternative embodiments,
filter 150 may include a body 170 which generally houses the filter
medium 152. Accordingly, filter medium 152 in these embodiments is
disposed within an interior 172 of the body 170. Further, in
exemplary embodiments, filter medium 152 may for example have a
hollow cylindrical shape which defines an interior 154. As
discussed herein, in some embodiments, water may be filtered via a
flow path from interior 172 through filter medium 152 into interior
154, or via a flow path from interior 154 through filter medium 152
into interior 172.
Body 170 may, for example, include a sidewall 174 which extends
along a longitudinal axis 171 between a first end wall 176 and a
second end wall 178. The sidewall 174 may, for example, have a
hollow cylindrical shape. One or more inlets 180 and one or more
outlets 182 may be defined in the body 170. Unfiltered water may
flow into the body 170 through the inlets 180, and filtered water
may flow from the body 170 through outlets 182.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, an inlet 180
may be defined proximate the first end wall 176 relative to the
second end wall 178 along the longitudinal axis 171 (i.e. closer to
the first end wall 176 than the second end wall 178 along the
longitudinal axis 171).
The inlet 180, for example, may be defined in the sidewall 174 and
contiguous with the first end wall 176, as shown. Notably, the
inlet 180 may only extend about a portion of the periphery of
sidewall 174 and thus may not be an entirely peripheral or
circumferential inlet. This facilitates correct orientation of the
filter 150, as the inlet 180 is desirably located at a bottom of
the filter 150 along the vertical direction V when the filter 150
is correctly disposed within a volume such as the second storage
volume 26. In alternative embodiments, the inlet 180 may be defined
in the first end wall 176, and may for example be contiguous with
the sidewall 174. Notably, the inlet 180 in these embodiments may
be offset along an outer surface 177 of the first end wall 176 from
a centroid of the outer surface 177, thus facilitating correct
orientation of the filter 150. For example, the inlet 180 may be
disposed at or adjacent to the periphery of the first end wall 176
(and may for example, only extend about a portion of this
periphery).
In alternative embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality
of inlets 180 may be defined in the sidewall 174. In these
embodiments, inlets 180 may for example be peripherally and/or
longitudinally spaced apart to define one or more peripheral and/or
longitudinal arrays, as shown.
Referring again to FIGS. 6 through 8, an outlet may be defined
proximate the second end wall 178 relative to the first end wall
176 along the longitudinal axis 171 (i.e. closer to the second end
wall 178 than the first end wall 176 along the longitudinal axis
171). For example, in exemplary embodiments as illustrated, a body
170 may include a nozzle 184 which protrudes (i.e. away from
interior 172) from the second wall 178 along the longitudinal axis
171. The nozzle 184 (through which water may flow) may define the
outlet 182, as shown.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the nozzle
184 (and thus the outlet 182) may be offset along an outer surface
179 of the second end wall 178 from a centroid of the outer surface
179, thus facilitating correct orientation of the filter 150.
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the nozzle 184 (and thus
the outlet 182) may be aligned with the centroid of the outer
surface 179.
Referring again to FIGS. 6 through 8, water may flow from the
second storage volume 26 and the filter 150 through an opening 31
in the water tank 24. In exemplary embodiments, a female fitting
186 may be disposed within the opening 31. Female fitting 186 may
facilitate a connection between the filter 150 and a downstream
conduit (which for example is a component of or leads to the pump
32). When connected, the nozzle 184 may extend into the female
fitting 186, as shown.
As mentioned, water may flow on a particular flow path through
filter 150 and filter medium 152 thereof to be filtered before
being exhausted through outlet 182. For example, in some
embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a flow path may be defined
through an inlet 180 into the interior 154, from the interior 154
through the filter medium 152 into the interior 172, and from the
interior 172 to the outlet 182. For example, a seal ring 188 may be
disposed in the interior 172. The seal ring 188 may be connected to
the filter medium 152, i.e. to an end thereof, and may provide a
partition to separate filtered and unfiltered water in the interior
172. Water may flow through the inlet 180 into the interior 172
(i.e. in an unfiltered portion thereof), and in the interior 172
may flow through the seal ring 188 into the interior 154. The water
may then flow from the interior 154 through the filter medium 152
to the interior 172 (i.e. a filter portion thereof), and from
interior 172 through nozzle 184 and outlet 182. Notably, sidewall
174 in exemplary embodiments may include a protrusion 190 which
extends outwardly away from the interior 172. The protrusion 190
may extend the entire length of the sidewall 174 along the
longitudinal axis 171 or only along a portion of the length, and
may extend through only a portion of the periphery of the sidewall
174. The protrusion 190 may provide extra room in the interior 172
for water flowed through the filter medium 152 to be allowed to
flow around the filter medium 152 to the nozzle 184 and outlet
182.
In alternative embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a generally
opposite flow path through the filter medium 152 may be defined.
For example, a flow path may be defined through the inlet(s) 180
into the interior 172, from the interior 172 through the filter
medium 152 into the interior 154, and from the interior 154 to the
outlet 182. For example, water may flow from the interior 154
directly into the nozzle 184, and through the nozzle 184 and outlet
182. In these embodiments, the unfiltered portion of the filter
includes the portion of the interior 172 surrounding the filter
medium 152, and the filtered portion includes the portion within
the interior 154.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in
the art to practice the invention, including making and using any
devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The
patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may
include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such
other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if
they include structural elements that do not differ from the
literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent
structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal
languages of the claims.
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